Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun deportation flights out of the state’s controversial migrant detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
“I’m pleased to report that those flights out of Alligator Alcatraz by DHS have begun. The cadence is increasing,” DeSantis said during remarks in South Florida. “We’ve already had a number of flights, and in the last few days, we’ve seen hundreds of illegals removed from this facility.”
When pressed for further details—such as the number of deportations and destinations—Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin offered only a brief, pointed remark:
“Fire up the deportation planes,” she told Fox News Digital.
Inside ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The facility, located at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport deep in the Everglades near Ochopee, Florida, was authorized under an emergency order signed by DeSantis. Originally an abandoned airstrip, the site has been transformed into a high-capacity detention center using durable tent structures.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management said the facility currently accommodates up to 2,000 detainees, with plans to double that number in the coming months.
President Donald Trump, Governor DeSantis, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem toured the site on July 1, 2025. Trump emphasized that the only exit from “Alligator Alcatraz” is deportation.
Deportation-Driven Design
Speaking Friday, DeSantis explained that the facility was built to streamline deportation logistics.
“The whole purpose is to make this a place that can facilitate increased frequency and volume of deportations,” DeSantis said. “One of the reasons this location made sense is because the runway is right here. You don’t have to bus detainees to a distant airport. It’s just a short drive across the tarmac and they’re on a plane.”
He added that the site is capable of handling full-size commercial aircraft and is equipped for round-the-clock flight operations.
As federal agencies move to accelerate removals under President Trump’s immigration orders, “Alligator Alcatraz” is now at the center of Florida’s enforcement efforts.
